Gowran athletes were very much to he fore at the Kilkenny novice championships in Kilmacow on Sunday. In the ladies 3K race it was sisters, Maria and Gretta who were first and second respectively. They set a steady pace from the start and there was never really a doubt but that they would share the first two places. With Lisa Kennedy in fifth place the Gowran club captured the Novice Shield. Sarah Dollard, St Senan’s was third, Elaine O’Reilly, Thomastown was fourth and Tracey Malone, St Joseph’s was sixth.
The Novice men’s 6K race was much more competitive both for the individual and team medals. Over the first kilometre three runners got away from the field. Niall Quinlan, KCH was first to take the lead and continued in front for the first five kilometres. Second and third positions alternated between David Larkin, St Joseph’s and Chris O’Neill, Gowran. Both allowed Quinlan to set the pace until the final lap when they passed him as they battled for the line. It was the Gowran man who proved the strongest and crossing the line was a proud winner of the gold medal. Larkin took the silver, leaving Quinlan in bronze position. Larkin however did get gold as his team, St Joseph’s with twenty-two points were first home. The other scorers on the St Joseph’s team were Michael Power (4 ), Peter Meggs (7 ) and Seamus Power (9 ). Kilkenny City Harriers were second team (Niall Quinlan 3rd, Eamon Marnell 5th, Clive Minogue 6th and Steve Dermody 16th. Gowran were third club having - Chris O’Neill, Jimmy Barcoe, Larry McGrath and John Paul Comerford 1st, 8th, 12th and 13th respectively. The other runners’ places were as follows:- For St Joseph’s – Martin Manning 10, Rocky Mernagh 11, Jim Murphy 20; St Senan’s – P J Irish 14; Kilkenny City Harriers - David McPherson 18; Gowran - Brian Keane 15, Matthew Nolan 17, Pat Bryan 19.
Running on the racecourse
This Sunday is one of the big ones. The national even ages juvenile cross-country races will be held on the Racecourse at Tramore. Athletes from Kilkenny will compete in all events. Going on the performance in the Leinster Championships the boys under 12 and girls under 16 teams seem to have the best chance of medal success in the juvenile races.
Eileen is awarded athlete of the year
At the National Athletics Awards in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry on Saturday night Eileen O’Keeffe was awarded Field Athlete of the Year Award for 2008. She earned the award for consistently achieving international level standards in the Hammer event. These included coming first in the European Cup and also capturing the senior hammer throwing title for the eight successive year. The juvenile athlete of the year award went to Brian Gregan of Tallaght. Kilkenny City Harriers athlete Ciara Everard was one of the nominees for this award.
